Health experts at a roundtable on Saturday said the country needs to develop medical experts to have specialized knowledge, skill and expertise in the field of anesthesia to ensure safe surgery.
When anesthesia has emerged as an essential component of safe surgery across the globe, Bangladesh has only 1575 anesthesiologists to deal with huge surgical cases, they told the roundtable at the Milton Hall of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) in the city.
Bangladesh Society of Anesthesiologist (BSA) organized the roundtable on the occasion of the World Anesthesia Day.
Prime Minister’s Media Adviser Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, General Secretary of Jatiya Press Club Quamrul Islam Chowhdury, Vice Chancellor of BSMMU, Prof Dr Kamrul Hasan Khan, Director General of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) of Prof Dr Abul Kalam Azad and President of Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council Prof Mohammad Shahidullah, among others, addressed the roundtable with BSA President Dr ABM Muksudul Alam in the chair.
Physicians, journalists and leaders of BSA took part in the open discussion highlighting different aspects on anesthesia.
Iqbal Sobhan said Bangladesh has witnessed a significant progress in the field of health sector as a result of strong commitment of the government to reach healthcare facilities to doorsteps of common people.
“Media could play an important role in disseminating health related news, which helps promote health services across the country,” he added.
Quamrul Islam Chowhdury said, “Doctors should work with the mentality of serving people as it is very dignified profession. They must achieve professional excellence to ensure their better contribution to the field of health sector”.
Prof Azad said, “There are only 1575 anesthesiologists in the country. Of them, 950 are in public sector and 625 are in private sector. This is not sufficient number of anesthesiologists to deal with huge number surgical intervention.”
The government is planning to develop 500 anesthesiologists to overcome manpower problem in the field of anesthesia, he added.
Other health experts said an anesthesiologist is medical doctor who keeps a patient comfortable, safe and pain-free during surgery by administering local and general anesthetic.
